08-12-2018, 06:16 PM
This is the final set of measurements I will take on the Victorinox.
First sharpening: 110, 130, 110, 125
After overnight : 160, 150, 150, 175
After stropping : 125, 110, 105, 100
Overnight #2 : 135, 140, 130, 105
After stropping : 120, 100, 100, 105
Overnight #3 : 140, 145, 135, 140
After stropping : 90, 110,100, 110
So far the overnight increase of sharpness values seems pretty consistent and stropping returned the edge to its original sharpness. To this point there seems to be little if any variation or tendency to change. What this means is that if the knife is used tomorrow sharpness will be in the 140 range. Plenty sharp for broccoli.
I have seen many times via microscopy that repeated use of the powered leather belt smoothes or burnishes the bevel and reduces the toothy quality of the edge. I want a toothy edge so I took probably two minutes and reground the edge forming a very small burr. Then I did a two pass deburring with the SB belt and one pass each side with the leather belt and measured:
110, 145, 115, 160
I had very quickly and with little care slopped out the sharpening and those numbers indicate that either I didn’t grind perfectly evenly or missed a bit of burr whilst deburring. I’m about 99% sure that one more pass on each side of the blade with the leather belt would even out the edge, but I really just don’t care. I’m going to use that blade, not marry it, and that variation in sharpness will not be noticeable in normal use. As soon as it is used the sharpness readings will be in the 200-250 range anyway so back in the drawer it goes… nice and toothy again.
I wish to thank Mr. Mike. Without a sharpness tester none of this could have been documented or even be possible to understand let alone accurately communicated. A sharpness tester is essential for understanding knife sharpening. If there is anyone out there reading this that sharpens knives and does not have a sharpness tester or is on the fence about getting one, all I can say is pull the trigger. You will be amazed at how instantly instructive they are, and how they enable accurately sharing edge sharpness results. So, thanks Mr. Mike!
First sharpening: 110, 130, 110, 125
After overnight : 160, 150, 150, 175
After stropping : 125, 110, 105, 100
Overnight #2 : 135, 140, 130, 105
After stropping : 120, 100, 100, 105
Overnight #3 : 140, 145, 135, 140
After stropping : 90, 110,100, 110
So far the overnight increase of sharpness values seems pretty consistent and stropping returned the edge to its original sharpness. To this point there seems to be little if any variation or tendency to change. What this means is that if the knife is used tomorrow sharpness will be in the 140 range. Plenty sharp for broccoli.
I have seen many times via microscopy that repeated use of the powered leather belt smoothes or burnishes the bevel and reduces the toothy quality of the edge. I want a toothy edge so I took probably two minutes and reground the edge forming a very small burr. Then I did a two pass deburring with the SB belt and one pass each side with the leather belt and measured:
110, 145, 115, 160
I had very quickly and with little care slopped out the sharpening and those numbers indicate that either I didn’t grind perfectly evenly or missed a bit of burr whilst deburring. I’m about 99% sure that one more pass on each side of the blade with the leather belt would even out the edge, but I really just don’t care. I’m going to use that blade, not marry it, and that variation in sharpness will not be noticeable in normal use. As soon as it is used the sharpness readings will be in the 200-250 range anyway so back in the drawer it goes… nice and toothy again.
I wish to thank Mr. Mike. Without a sharpness tester none of this could have been documented or even be possible to understand let alone accurately communicated. A sharpness tester is essential for understanding knife sharpening. If there is anyone out there reading this that sharpens knives and does not have a sharpness tester or is on the fence about getting one, all I can say is pull the trigger. You will be amazed at how instantly instructive they are, and how they enable accurately sharing edge sharpness results. So, thanks Mr. Mike!